Erictiobt-cltttch



J. H. STULL.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-I2. 1915.

l l 932 Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

I AIL-52:11:1-

JACOB H. STULL, OF FREMONT, OHIO- FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au: 1, 19115.

Application filed August 12, 1915. Seria1 No. 45,168.

'1 b all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jaoon H. ST'ULL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county ofSandusky and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Friction- Clutches; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which. it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in clutches and moreparticularly to those of the friction type.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this class whichalthough being of extremely simple and therefore inexpensiveconstruction, will be highly efficient and durable and will possess anumber of advantageous characteristics.

1V ith this general object in view, the invention resides in certainnovel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to behereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and edge views of a clutchconstructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 3 is a centrallongitudinal section as viewed along the plane indicated by the line 33of Fig. 2; Fig. 1- is a transverse section taken on the plane of theline 1-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. is a similar view as seen on the planeindicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In this drawing which constitutes a part of the application and in whichlike reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, the numeral 1 indicates a rigid but rotatable frictiondisk provided, preferably at diametri- :ally opposite points, with apair of guide arms 2 which not only lie parallel to each other but tothe axis of the disk. As clearly shown, the arms .2 are integrallyconnected to the disk 1 at one end, while the other ends of said armsare directed inwardly toward each other and are integrally joined at 3to a hub 4:, the latter being secured by a key 5 or an equivalentlocking device to a shaft 6.

Disposed in axial alinement with the hub 4- and disk 1 and interposedbetween the arms 2 is a second and shiftable friction disk 7 such diskbeing shown in the present embodiment of the invention as having earsextending from its edge at opposite points and provided with guidenotches S which so receive the arms 2 as to allow the disk 7 to slidefreely toward and away from the disk 1.

interposed between the two disks 1 and 7.. is an additional disk 9 whichis rotatable independently thereof, said disk 9 being here shown asprovided with a tubular hub 10 which passes loosely through a centralopening in the disk l and which rotatably receives the shaft 6. This hub10 may be keyed to a pulley 11 as shown in the drawings, may be securedto an additional shaft, or may itself constitute the shaft as will beobvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Numerous devices may well be provided for shifting the disk 7 toward thedisk 1 to bind disk 9 frictionally therebetween, but by preference Iprovide the construction now to be set forth. The disk 7 is equippedwith a hub 12 which is formed in two secti ons, an innermost externallythreaded section 12 carried rigidly by the disk and receiving the shaft6 loosely, and an outer ring-like section 12 which is provided withinternal screw threads engaging the external threads on the section 12.By this construction, the length of the hub may be varied for a reasonyet to be set forth. After adjusting the length of the hub, however, itis necessary to provide some simple means for locking the two sections12 and 12 against relative movement, and although this may be done in anumber of ways the member 12 is preferably split and equipped with aclamping bolt 13 whereby it may be contracted and thus held frictionallyaround the section 12% The outer end of the hub 12 (the section 12thereof) bears against a thrust collar 14 which is interposed betweenthe aforesaid hub and the hub 4, diametrically opposite points on saidcollar being engaged by the ends of a pair of clislcshifting levers 15which are pivoted to ears or the like formed on the hub 4. In thepresent embodiment of the invention, the levers 15 are shown of suchshape as to force the collar 14 toward the disk 1 when said levers areforced away from each other, and a shiftable cone 16 is provided for soactuating said levers but obviously the levers may be of other formationand equivalent means may well be provided for operating the same.

When the cone 16 is shifted from the position disclosed in Fig. 2 tothat depicted in Fig. 1, the collar it moves the hub 12 in such adirection as to cause the disk 9 to be frictionally gripped between thetwo disks 1 and 7, the existing friction between these disks beingincreased by rings 17 carried by the inner faces of the disks 1 and 7,said rings being preferably though not necessarily constructed of fiberboard. Thus it will be evident that a reliable connection is establishedbetween the haft 6 and the pulley 11, or between said shaft and anyother device which may take the place of the aforesaid pulley. Then thecone 16 is shifted to inactive position to release the clutch, it isessential to provide some means whereby the numerous movable disks maybe returned to their normal positions. Here again, numerous details ofconstruction may be employed, but coil springs 18 are preferablyinterposed between the central disk 9 and the disks 1 and 7.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be evident that although the constructionof the device is extremely simple, the invention will be efficient anddurable and will possess a number of advantages. Among these advantages,is the unique construction for guiding the movable member 7 and itsassociation with that for supporting the levers 15, and the constructionof the extensible hub 12, this being a rather salient feature since byitsuse, the disks may be forced into proper frictional contact,regardless of wear incurred thereby. Particular emphasis is laid uponthe fact that the last named result may be obtained without varying therelation of the cone 16 and the levers 15.

in the drawings, certain specific details of construction have beenshown for accomplishing probably the best results, and in the precedingsuch details have been described, but obviously I need not be restrictedthereto, otherwise than to the extent to which the appended claims limitme.

1 claim 1. A clutch comprising a friction disk, a hub member spacedaxially therefrom, a pair of spaced arms connecting the disk and hubmember and disposed parallel to the axis thereof, a second friction diskbetween the two arms and having guides slidable on said arms, a thirddisk interposed between the other disks and rotatable independentlythereof, and a disk-shifting lever fulcrumed to the aforesaid hub memberfor shifting the second disk.

2. A clutch comprising a friction disk having a central opening, a pairof spaced arms projecting from said disk at diametrically oppositepoints and disposed parallel to the axis thereof, said arms having theirends directed inwardly toward each other, a hub to which said inwardlydirected ends are joined, a second disk between the two arms havingnotches at diametrically opposite points in its edge slidably receivingsaid arms, a third disk interposed between the other disks and having anaxial extension projecting through the opening in the first named disk,a hub on the second disk extended toward the first named hub, and anoperating lever fulcrumed to said first named hub for shifting the otherhub axially.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JACOB I L'STULL.

Witnesses:

A. E. STULL, BYNRE A. FoUoHE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

